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Feb. 7, 1956 R. G. DIEGO EXERCISING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1952 INVENTOR- flwva/v 6. Java A 'mown ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1956 R DIEGO EXERCISING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1'7. 1952 r ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,733,922 EXERCISING APPARATUS Ramon Gonzalez Diego, Havana, Cuba Application September 17, 1952, Serial No. 310,071 Claims. (Cl. 272-58) Thisinvention relates to an exercising apparatus, and more particularly to such an apparatus for persons whose muscles, especially leg muscles, have been affected by polio.

It is well known that the legs of persons who have been afflicted with polio are not all affected in the same manner. In fact, it can be truly stated that no two cases are exactly alike since the affected muscle or groups of muscles differ greatly in different cases. It is also well known that in order to attain a partial or total recovery of the affected muscles, it is absolutely necessary that these muscles be methodically and perseveringly subjected to certain specific movements, initially performing these movements in such a manner as will require the least possible effort on the part of the weakened muscle or muscles, and then gradually increasing the effort required until the desired object is attained.

The more performance of the movements is not enough, however, as it is indispensable that the movements be performed while the entire body is held in the exact position that will produce the most benefieal results. This is particularly true with respect to the position that must be occupied by the patients feet during the exercise, since a slight deviation from the correct position may result in the exercise being more harmful than beneficial. The position occupied by the feet depends on the muscle or group of muscles that have been affected by the disease, and since the muscle or muscles are practically different in the different cases, the feet must be supported or positioned differently in each individual case.

Having in mind the foregoing conditions, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exercising apparatus that is particularly adapted for use in exercising the legs of persons who have been afflicted by polio.

it is another object of the present invention to provide an exercising device that may be readily adjusted to accommodate the requirements of individual patients.

it is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus having means for supporting and positioning the patients feet in any desired relation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus that may be readily adjusted to selectively vary the effort by the affected muscles.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an exercising apparatus having simplicity of design, economy of construction and efficiency in operation.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplished, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, by an apparatus including a platform frame pivotally mounted at one end on a mobile base and including adjustable support means between the other end of the frame and the base to support the frame at a selected angle. Foot boards are pivotally mounted and adjustably positioned on the pivoted end of the frame, and adjustable foot supports are adjustably mounted on said foot boards. A body supporting carriage is slidably mounted on the frame and includes a rigid portion for supporting the hips and a pivotally adjustable portion for supporting the shoulders of a patient. Hand posts are mounted on the carriage and support a Weight bar for removably carrying weights to vary the resistance to movement of the carriage up the inclined frame.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the v 2,733,922 Patented Feb. 7, 1956 appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and in which:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of an exercising apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view corresponding to line 3-3 of Figure 2, but with the carriage supporting platform in an elevated position;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View corresponding to line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view corresponding to line 55 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view corresponding to line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, specifically to Figures l3, an exercising apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 1, which may be in the form of a rectangular frame, provided with retractable wheels 2 which are journaled on arms 2 of cross shaft 2a that are journaled on the base 1. Each shaft 2:: has a control lever 2b for swinging the wheels 2 between operative (Figures 1, 2 and 6) and inoperative (Figure 3) positions, and the base 1 carries clips 20 for releasably retaining the levers 2b in position when the wheels are swung down to operative position.

A platform 3, which may also be in the form of a rectangular frame, is pivotally mounted adjacent one end on the base 1 by means of brackets 4 fixed to the platform and pivotally supported by a cross shaft 4 on the base 1. A pair of foot boards 5 are mounted on the pivotally supported end of the platform 3, each said board having a hinge portion 5' at the lower edge, said hinge portions being pivotally supported by a cross shaft 6 carried by a bracket 7 fixed on the end of the platform 3.

An arcuate rack-like member 8 is fixed on each side of the platform 3 and curves upwardly adjacent the outer edges of the foot boards 5 and substantially concentric to the shaft 6. The members 8 have a series of notches 8 in their upper edges. A sleeve 9 is fixed on the outer edge of each foot board 5 and a latch or pawl fa is slidably mounted in each sleeve and is adapted for insertion in a selected notch 8' in the adjacent arcuate member .3 to retain the respective foot boards 5 at the desired angle relative to the platform 3. I

Each of the foot boards 5 is provided with a plurality of bores ltl arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, as best shown in Figure 4, with a plurality of sleeves 10 projecting rearwardly from the boards 5 and defining extensions of the bores 10, as best shown in Figure 5. A foot rest 11 is mounted on each board 5 by means of a cylindrical stem lie seated in a selected bore 10. Each foot rest 11 comprises a sole plate 11a having straps 11b and lie for retaining a patients foot in fixed position on the sole plate Ila. A journal element lid is fixed on the underside of the sole plate 11a and is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft or the like 11f on the end of and transverse to the stern file. The pivotal connections between the journal element lid and shaft 11] and the stem lie and bore iii affords an angular adjustment of the foot rest il relative to the foot board 5'. The desired adjustment may be fixed by means of set screws 1.1g in the sleeves 10 for clamping the stem lie and a set screw 1111 in the journal element lid for clamping the shaft Hi.

The platform 3, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, may

comprise a rectangular frame including side members 12 and cross members 13. A rod 14 is supported by the cross members 13 and is centrally disposed longitudinally between the side members 12, as best shown'in Figures 2, 3 and 6. The side members 12 are provided with longitudinally extending tracks 15 which, as shown in Figure 6, may comprise channels formed in the side members.

A carriage 16 is mounted on the platform 3 by means of wheels or rollers 16 mounted on the tracks 15. The carriage 16 is provided with depending cross members 16a adjacent each end and these cross members have bores therein by which they are freely threaded on the rod 14, as best shown in Figures 3 and 6. Thus, the carriage 16 can run freely on the tracks 15 while the rod 14 limits the longitudinal movement of the carriage and precludes any deviation of the carriage from the tracks or platform.

The carriage 16 has a fixed seat platform portion 17 on the end toward the foot boards, and a shoulder platform portion 17a that is mounted on a transverse pivot is centrally of the carriage. Thus, the shoulder platform portion 17a may be angularly adjusted, as shown in Figure 3, and it may be secured in angularly adjusted relation by means of a depending bar 2%) connected to the underside of the portion 17:: by a pivot 20a and having a series of holes 20 for selective registry with a pin Zucon a bracket 29b on the carriage. A strap 17!: is secured to the carriage 16 or adjacent the fixed portion 17 for securing a patient on the carriage. Posts 21 are mounted adjacent the free edge of the pivotal portion 27a and form hand grips, and a weight bar 21 is mounted across the posts 21 for removably supporting selected weights.

An upright 27, braced by braces 27', is mounted on the base 1 adjacent the free end of the platform 3, and a pulley 22 is journaled on the upper end of the upright 27. A drum 23 is mounted centrally of the base 1 adjacent the upright 27 and is carried by a crank shaft 24 having a crank handle 2dr: beyond the base 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A ratchet wheel 24b is fixed on the crank shaft 24, and a pawl 240 is carried by the base I for cooperation with the ratchet wheel 24b to retain the crank shaft 24. A cable 25 is secured to the free end of the platform 3, as by an eye 25, and is trained over the pulley 22 and down around the drum 23-. Bars 26 are mounted on opposite sides of the base 1 by pivots 26, said bars each having a series of holes 26a for selective cooperation with pins 26b on the opposite sides of the platform 3, as shown in Figure 3. Brackets 260 on the base 1 support the bars 26 when not in use, as shown in Figure 1.

In the operation of the apparatus, the wheels 2 may be swung to operative position (Figure l) and moved to the desired site whereupon the wheels may be retracted (Figure 3) so that the base 1 rests firmly on the floor. The patient, either adult or infant, is then disposed on the carriage 16, seated on the fixed portion 17, with his shoulders on the pivotal portion 17a, and his feet are secured to the foot rests 11. The foot boards 5 are respectively adjusted to the desired angle by means of the pawls 9a, the foot rest stems 11s are selectively inserted in the desired bores 10, the sole plates 11a universally adjusted by means of the set screws 11g and 11h and simultaneously the spacing of the sole plates adjusted relative to the foot boards 5 by the set screws 11g.

The patient is secured to the carriage 16 by the strap 17b, and if desired, the pivotal portion 17a is angularly adjusted by means of the bars 20 and 20c. The patient may then exercise his leg muscles by bending and straightening his legs, the carriage supporting his body and re ciprocating on the platform in accordance with the movement of the legs. Thus, the leg muscles are exercised without subject to strain by the weight of the body and the feet are so positioned as to exercise the particular muscles to be developed.

As the muscles become stronger, they may gradually be subjected to increases of weight by tilting the platform 3 upwardly about its pivot 4. This may be effected by cranking the handle 24a to wind the cable 25 on the drum 23, thereby elevating the free end of the platform. The pawl 24c engaging the ratchet 24b locks the drum 23 to hold the cable 25. The bars 26 are then swung up to engage the proper holes 26a over the pins 26b and thus rigidly support the platform 3. When the platform 3 is elevated, the patients leg muscles are then subjected to the increased effort of pushing the carriage up the incline. As the muscles grow stronger, the incline of the platform is gradually increased. In this manner, the proper leg muscles are exercised until they have sufiiciently recovered to support the patient and permit exercise in the normal upright position.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A leg exercising apparatus for persons afflicted by polio, comprising a main support, individual foot supports on said main support, a body supporting carriage movably mounted on said main support for reciprocation relative to said foot supports, each foot support comprising a foot rest and a foot board; each foot rest being pivotally mounted on a cylindrical stem for adjustment about an axis perpendicular to the stem, and each foot board having a plurality of bores in spaced relation, said stem being inserted in a selected bore of the corresponding foot board, whereby said foot supports are individually and independently adjustably mounted to accommodate angular and lateral adjustment relative to said carriage.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said foot supports are adjacent one end of said main support, a base, pivot means on said base and pivotally supporting said main support adjacent the foot support end thereof, and adjustable means on said base and connected with said main support for supporting said main support at a selected inclination.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim. 2, wherein said adjustable means comprises an upright on said base adjacent the free end of said support, a pulley journaled on said upright, a drum journaled on said base, a flexible member connected to the free end of said main support and extending around said pulley to said drum, means for driving said drum, and means for locking said drum against movement by said flexible member.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises a fixed seat portion and a pivotally adjustable shoulder supporting portion, and means for supporting said shoulder portion at a selected angle relative to said fixed portion.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said pivotal shoulder portion carries spaced posts forming hand grips, wherein a weight bar is mounted across said posts.

References Qited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 309,678 Aubin Dec. 23, 1884 325,519 Farmer Sept. 1, I885 421,045 Caldwell Feb. 11, 1890 828,221 Langel Aug. 7, 1906 l,205,426 Barnhill Nov. 2l, 1916 1,750,549 Thomson Mar. ll, 1930 1,979,783 Williams Nov. 6, 1934 1,982,872 Husted Dec. 4, 1934 2,456,412 Heimbaugh Dec. 14, l948 2,562,339 Socol July 31, 1951 2,657,055 Denham -2 Oct. 27, 1953 

